Composition race track base with roughened top surface



May 30-, 1967 P. BIEBER ETAL 3,322,047

COMPOSITION RACE TRACK BASE WITH ROUGHENED TOP SURFACE Filed April 16, 1965 Illa/11717111111- Fig. 3 Fig. 2 22 I8 20 Philip Bieber Allen 0. Frisc/rer IN VENTQRQv United States Patent 3,322,047 COMPOSITION RACE TRACK BASE WITH ROUGHENED TOP SURFACE Philip Bieber, Coral Gables, Fla. (69-34 180th St.,

Flushing, N.Y. 11365), and Allen D. Frischer, 2 Prospect Ave., Woodmere, N.Y. 11598 Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,588 2 Claims. (Cl. 94-4) The present construction generally relates to horse race tracks and more particularly a novel and improved base or sub-surface constructed of resilient material and having a particular upper surface for retaining the usual cushion in place thereon.

Conventionally, race tracks are constructed with a base or sub-surface of hard packed clay or dirt. Disposed on top of the base is a layer of loose dirt generally called a cushion and of varying depth. In prolonged dry spells, the base becomes quite hard thereby causing a dangerous condition since this results in injuries and the like. If it is a clay base, it sometimes becomes chipped or provided with holes or pockets which quite often causes injury to horses. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a race track having a base constructed of a resilient material such as a synthetic polymer or the like so that the characteristics of the base will be the same thereby reducing injuries or the like caused by a hard packed base or a base with holes or pockets therein or stones or rods working through the dirt or clay base.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a race track base of resilient material having the usual cushion placed thereon together with a roughened surface defined by upward spaced projections on the resilient material for receiving and keying the cushion to the base thereby reducing the tendency of hard rain washing the cushion ofi the base. Thus, the characteristics of the cushion will vary so that a fast track will be obtained if the cushion is dry and a slow track will prevail if the cushion is Wet whereby the cushion placed over the composition base will have the same characteristics which prevail when the cushion is placed over a dirt or clay base.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a base for a race track which will be substantially permanent in nature thereby eliminating the necessity of the repeated re-preparation of the base which is necessary when a dirt or clay base is employed thereby reducing the cost of proper maintenance of a race track. Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a race track having a base of resilient material having a certain degree of flexibility but also substantial retension of shape and configuration in order to withstand the forces normally encountered by the base.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view illustrating a race track constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the race track base;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view taken along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the construction of the projection on the base; and

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the race track base.

3,322,047 Patented May 30, 1967 Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a race track having a layer of small rock, gravel or the like 10 which has a layer of sealing material 12 overlying the same. The sealing layer is preferably constructed of asphalt or some other material to introduce a certain amount of resiliency or give to the race track.

Disposed in overlying relation to the asphalt layer 12 is the base 14 and overlying the base 14 is the cushion 16 which is of conventional cushioning material used in a race track such as loose soil and the like. The race track may be edged in any suitable manner such as by grass or the like or if the present invention is used in a turf track, the top surface of the track will, of course, be appropriately provided with grass.

The base 14 is the essential part of the invention and includes a panel or layer 14 of resilient material such as a synthetic polymer or rubber material having a thickness on the order of one-half inch more or less and having substantial body but yet being sufiiciently flexible and resilient to withstand the forces exerted thereon by horses as they run along the track in a usual manner.

The upper surface of the resilient material has a plurality of projections 18 and grooves 20 with the projections being relatively elongated and intermediate the projections 18, relatively square projections 22 are provided which may be flat or tapered and provided with roughened surfaces. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the projections and the grooves receive the cushioning material 16 and serve as a key or lock for retaining the cushioning material 16 on the resilient flexible member 14.

The resilient flexible base may be constructed of various size components convenient for laying in place and may actually be secured to the asphalt surface while the asphalt surface is still tacky. For example, the base could be constructed of rectangular or square panels having a tongue and groove inter-connection between the meeting edges thereof. Thus, the base may be easily installed and the complete race track formed in a simple and inexpensive manner. Thereafter, it is unnecessary to periodically remove the cushion and re-prepare the clay base inasmuch as the resilient flexible base constituting a significant part of the present invention will maintain its properties for a relatively long period of time.

While the dimensions may vary, the thickness of the rock layer may be on the order of eight inches while the thickness of the asphalt layer may be six inches and the cushion of adequate thickness and the resilient base approximately one-half irich thick more or less.

It is pointed out that the material below the composition base may be constructed in various ways and from various materials. In certain sections of the United States, such as in Florida, Louisiana and California, it may be desirable to have other types of materials than that disclosed under the composition base.

As will be apparent, the significant feature of this invention resides in the composition base and the advantages derived therefrom.

In constructing the composition base, various designs may be provided on the top other than that illustrated. However, the projections and grooves are so constructed, spaced and arranged so that drainage during wet weather will be smooth and equal throughout the surface area thereby helping to prevent washouts. In fact, the drainage from the top surface of the composition base will be equal to or better than that which now prevails on dirt or clay bases employed in race tracks. Further, the particular construction of the top surface of the composition base and the particular arrangement of the projections and grooves is such that a minimum amount of cushion will be lost off the sides of the race track.

The top design is so arranged in steps to hold the cushion especially during heavy rains. The water will drain through the steps but the smaller step will hold the cushion while the water slowly seeps over it. Thus, the top design will prevent rivulets or Washouts and the entire base will drain evenly. This is in direct contrast to the present dirt or sandy base. Further, the roughened top surface of the steps or projections forms a barrier to the cushion *being Washed away. Even though during a heavy and prolonged downpour, some cushion may be lost, the present invention will materially reduce the loss thereby retaining the cushion in place for a longer period of time and other eliminating holes or Washouts in the base due to rain or other causes.

The composition base does not freeze. Thus, when the ground is frozen down deep in Winter months and it starts to thaw,'the composition base will remain normal. During such a thaw, a dirt or sand base will be no more than deep mud and in many cases, races have been called ofr because the track 'was said to have no bottom.

In the springtime, especially at tracks in northern latitudes, jockeys, sometimes refuse to ride because of thawing of the base which results in the track having no bottom. With the composition base, this problem will not exist inasmuch as the characteristics of the composition base Will remain constant.

Also, when the conventional track and base is frozen, the track is very hard and jars the horses and sometimes causes injury Whereas the composition base remains substantially the same all the time. Thus, regardless of the change in atmospheric conditions as to temperature, rain, snow or the like, the characteristics of the composition base will remain the same but the characteristics of the cushion will vary thus retaining variations in track conditions but eliminating dangerous conditions. Another ancillary but very important advantage of the present invention is the eliminating of rocks working up through the base which is quite hazard in conventional tracks and such rocks also leave an opening through the base in conventional tracks which can cause injury to horses.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the.

1. A race track construction com-prising a supporting layer of material, a base of resilient flexible material supported thereon, and a cushion of loose dirt'engaging 7 said base whereby the flexible resilient base will receive the forces of running hooves thereon, said base including projecting means on the upper surface thereof defining a roughened surface for retaining the cushion thereon.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said pro-. jecting means on said base includes a first plurality of spaced projections defining grooves therebetween, and a second plurality of spaced projections interrupting said grooves between the first plurality of projections and being taller than the first plurality of projections to provide keying engagement with the cushion at difierent elevations to retain the cushion on the base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 172,574 1/ 1876 Mathias 94-13 255,687 3/1882 Snyder 94-16 X 512,318 1/1894 Parks 94-14 X 1,134,578 4/ 1915 Armstrong 94-3 1,594,261 7/ 1926 Hershmann. 1,741,745 12/1929 Thompson 94-16 X 2,737,693 3/1956 Robbins 52-593 X JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RACE TRACK CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A SUPPORTING LAYER OF MATERIAL, A BASE OF RESILIENT FLEXIBLE MATERIAL SUPPORTED THEREON, AND A CUSHION OF LOOSE DIRT ENGAGING SAID BASE WHEREBY THE FLEXIBLE RESILIENT BASE WILL RECEIVE THE FORCES OF RUNNING HOOVES THEREON, SAID BASE INCLUDING PROJECTING MEANS ON THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF DEFINING A ROUGHENED SURFACE FOR RETAINING THE CUSHION THEREON. 